A Socio-Psychological Portrait of the Moscow Camp Counsellor

  • Vyacheslav I. Belov National Research Nuclear University «MEPhI» slawa289@yandex.ru
  • Daria Yu. Elkina National Research Nuclear University «MEPhI» dasha217991@gmail.com
How to Cite
Belov V.I., Elkina D.Y. 2018. A Socio-Psychological Portrait of the Moscow Camp Counsellor — Sociologicheskaja nauka i social’naja praktika. Vol. 6. No. 2. P. 137-150. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19181/snsp.2018.6.2.5862

Abstract

This article examines the personal and professional characteristics of counselors at children’s camps revealed during sociological research. The results of this research are graded and presented in seven tables, with commentaries for each. It was determined that respondents considered the most highly-valued personal qualities in counselors to be honesty, kindness and politeness. The same qualities are also named as those most desirable for emulation. The most highly-preferred life value for future camp counselors is family, and success in life is determined first and foremost through self-actualization. The text presents findings on the preferred characters of counselors. The professional qualities of counselors were determined using a range of specific questions. Analysis of the data obtained is performed using a correlational factor, which was chosen to be experience of working with children at a children’s camp. The determining motive for the choice of the profession of camp counselor is the possibility of self-actualization. The most necessary traits for counselors are attentiveness, tactfulness, and responsibility. Those who specify responsibility have no work experience. A significant disparity between the opinions of those with and without experience was observed in the choice of social role (who to be in the eyes of the children). Those with experience more often wanted to serve as older companions, while new counselors more often wanted to be the children’s friend. An open-ended question on the meaning of expressing “love towards children” demonstrated that it is associated with care, respect, benevolence and fairness. Self-assessments appear to indicate that the fundamental professional trains of counselor-teachers in general correspond to those which employers wish to see in their employees.
Keywords:
youth health-improving camp, counsellor, life values, qualities of "real" counsellor

Author Biographies

Vyacheslav I. Belov, National Research Nuclear University «MEPhI»
Candidate of Psychology, Associate Professor
Daria Yu. Elkina, National Research Nuclear University «MEPhI»
Student

References

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Citation Formats
Other cite formats:

Harvard
Belov, V. I. and Elkina, D. Y. (2018) ’A Socio-Psychological Portrait of the Moscow Camp Counsellor’, Sociologicheskaja nauka i social’naja praktika, 6(2), pp. 137-150. doi: https://doi.org/10.19181/snsp.2018.6.2.5862.